Meat-pressing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A meat-pressing machine which comprises a bed and at least one ram plate mounted on a plunger secured to the underside of a crosshead vertically reciprocable on guide rods extending upwardly from the bed. A plate is carried by the bed for supporting the meat to be pressed or flattened. Alternatively, a tray may be supported on the bed plate for receiving a plurality of molds cooperable with a plunger for forming meat portions into desired shapes. Each plunger is comprised of a pair of telescopically sliding sleeve members, one of which is secured to the crosshead and the other of which carries a ram member. The sleeve members are urged apart by a coil spring which also serves to absorb the energy of impact of the ram member. Means are provided for securing the sleeve members together and for limiting axial movement thereof in opposite directions.

U Iii 111 ed States Patt Menard [415] Mar. 14, 1972 [54] MEAT-PRESSHNG APPARATUS 1,411,367 4/1922 Mottier ..l/2l9 X [72] Inventor: Andre'Robefl Jacmrd Buffalo NY 3,283,360 11/1966 Tama1n.... 17/25 [73] Assignee: Jaccard Corporation, Erie County, NY. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 648,680 8/1928 France 100/268 [221 filed 1970 953,501 5/1949 France 100L268 [21] Appl. N0.: 15,337

Primary ExaminerBilly J. Wilhite 52 11.5.1131 ..100/224, 17/32, 18/16, AmmekAshla Harlan 100/225, 100/226, [00/229, 100/237, 100/259, 57 ABSTRACT 100/266, 100/268, 100/295, l00/DIG. l 1 [51] int. Cl ..Bb 15/02 A meat-pressing machine which comprises a bed and at least [58] Field of Search ..17/25, 32; 18/ 16 E, 16 H, 16 P; One r m plate mounted on a plunger secured to the underside /295, 266, 268, 221, 224, 225, 229, 237, 259, of a crosshead vertically reciprocable on guide rods extending 295 mg 10 267 22 219 upwardly from the bed. A plate is carried by the bed for supporting the meat to be pressed or flattened. Alternatively, a 5 R f enc Cited tray may be supported on the bed plate for receiving a plurality of molds cooperable with a plunger for forming meat por- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions into desired shapes. Each plunger is comprised of a pair l' 1 be f h h 256,904 4/1882 Laass ..100/225 x j 'f gs g gf g z 1998166 4,1935 Nelson "100/ 295 member. The sleeve members are urged apart by a coil spring 2205133 6/1940 Bragg ""100/268 x which also serves to absorb the energy of impact of the ram 737'427 8/1903 liemberg loo/229 UX member. Means are provided for securing the sleeve members 659,630 10/1900 S1mm0ns ..l00/237 UX together and for limiting axial movement thereof in opposite 534,702 2/ 1895 Stecker ..100/268 X directions 325,102 8/1885 Marshall et aL. ....100/229 X 2,622,778 12/1952 Poland ..l00/268 X 11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Mmmd March ML, 1%?

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY? MEAT-PRESSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to presses and, more particularly, to machines for pressing meat to flatten it and/or to form it into desired shapes.

In the field of food preparation, the use of previously weighed, prepackaged meat products has received wide acceptance in recent years. Also the trend has been to remove the bone and other waste from the meat products prior to sale to the ultimate consumer to facilitate the final preparation of such meat products for consumption. To this end, it has been found desirable to flatten or press bulky, irregular shapes of meat for convenient handling and for easy cutting. Sometimes, it is desirable to form boneless cuts or portions of meat products into desired shapes such as loaves, cubes, patties or cutlets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for pressing meat products to obtain uniform thickness.

It is another object of this invention to provide the foregoing machine with means for pressing and forming meat portions into desired shapes.

The meat-pressing machines of this invention are characterized by the provision of a bed plate, a crosshead supported and guided for reciprocating vertical movement relative to said bed plate, a plunger comprising a pair of relatively mova ble members depending from said crosshead, said members being resiliently held apart and the lower one having a ram member detachably secured thereto and cooperating with said bed plate or a mold carried thereby to flatten or shape portions of meat placed therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, similar to FIG. I and illustrating another form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a tray with a plurality of molds; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the lower surface of a modified ram head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIG. I, there is shown a mechanical press constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprehensively designated 10, comprising a stationary bed 12 extending horizontally between a pair of tubular sleeves 14 adapted to be mounted on the frame of a machine for guiding a pair of vertical rods 16 which form opposite sides of an upright rectangular reciprocating apparatus, comprehensively designated 18, completed by a lower, horizontally extending crossbar (not shown) and an upper horizontally extending crossbar secured, respectively, to rods 16 by any suitable fasteners, such as bolts 21, for example. For details of the type of machine with which the present invention may be used, reference may be had to US. Pat. No. 3,283,360, which discloses a meat-tenderizing machine incorporating a vertically reciprocable framework slidable in tubular guide sleeves similar to sleeves 14 of the instant invention. In the present invention, framework or apparatus 18 is preferably vertically reciprocable by any suitable drive means, such as that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, or framework 118 can be held fixed, if desired, within the purview of this invention. The terms upper, lower, top, bottom, upwardly, downwardly, and the like, as used herein, are applied only for convenience of description with reference to the drawings and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

A crosshead 22 is vertically slidable on rods 16 and rests on two coil springs 24 (only one is shown in FIG. 1), disposed about the rods 16, respectively, and extending between the upper surfaces of sleeves 14 and the lower surface of crosshead 22. The coil springs 24 are contained within a series of tubes or sleeves 26, 28 and 30 of progressively smaller diameters in a downward direction so that the adjacent sleeves may be telescopically accommodated one within the other. The crosshead 22 is thus resiliently supported for reciprocating sliding movement on vertical rods 16 by the springs 24 with downward movement thereof being against the bias of the springs. A ram member or head in the form of a plate 32, suspended from crosshead 22 by means hereinafter described, is adapted to engage and press or flatten. a piece of meat as will hereinafter become apparent.

The bed 12 is provided with a plurality of upwardly facing surfaces 34 in bearing contact with the lower surface of a movable bed plate 36 which supports the meat to be treated. The bed plate 36 and the ram plate 32 are preferably rectan gular in plan and are preferably formed. of steel plate covered with a polytetrafluoroethylene resin such as that sold under the trademark Teflon." However, they may be of any suitable material possessing the requisite strength and rigidity and may take any desired shape within the purview of this invention. The plate 36 is removable to enable it to be cleaned and/or replaced, as required. To this end, the bed plate 36 is provided with grooves 38 at opposite sides thereof for receiv- A ing tongues or guiding flanges 40 projecting inwardly from sleeves 14 above bed 12.

Means are provided for lowering and raising crosshead 22, such means comprising a suitable electric motor 42 operatively connected to a drive shaft 44 by a suitable gear drive train 46. The drive shaft 44 is supported by lugs 45 from the crossbar 20 and is rigidly secured to a rotatable disc 48 having a pin 50 projecting outwardly from one face thereof. A connecting rod 52 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on pin 50 and pivotally mounted at the other end thereof on a stub shaft 54 suitably secured by lugs 56 to crosshead 22.

A plunger, comprehensively designated 60, which is provided with a rectangular mounting plate 62 having dovetail side edges 64, is releasably secured to the underside of crosshead 22 by means of corresponding dovetail slots (not shown) provided in a separable clamp 66 suitably mounted on the crosshead. Details of the clamp 66 are show in the abovementioned patent. The plunger 60 comprises two telescopically cooperating sleeves. The outer, cuplike sleeve member 68 is integral with mounting plate 62 or rigidly secured thereto by suitable means and is provided with an end wall 70 having an inwardly directed axial boss 72 provided with a central opening 74 therein which communicates with a well 76, coaxial therewith, formed in the end wall 70 and mounting plate 62. An annular shoulder 78 is defined by the transition between the well 76 and the opening 74. A bolt 80 extends through the opening 74, the head 82 thereof being received in the well 76 and adapted to engage the shoulder 78.

The plunger also comprises a cuplike, inner, sleeve member 84 which is telescopically received within the outer sleeve member 68 for axial reciprocating movement relative thereto. The sleeve member 84 is provided with an end wall 85 having a central opening 86 through which the bolt 80 extends. A nut 68 is threaded onto the end of bolt 80 for connecting the inner and outer sleeve members 84 and 68 together and limiting outward axial movement therebetween. An annular sealing ring 90 held in an annular groove 92 in. the sleeve member 68 prevents entrance of extraneous matter into the plunger 60. A cotter pin may be inserted through nut 88 and the end of bolt 80 for locking the nut thereon.

The ram plate 32 is suitably secured to the under side of the inner sleeve member 84 by means of bolts 94. A heavy compression coil spring 96 is interposed between the end walls 70 and 85 of sleeve members 68 and 84, respectively, to hold the same apart and to absorb the impact of the ram plate 32 as it strikes the meat to be pressed. The spring 96 is positioned by the boss 72 and by a sleeve 98 which surrounds the bolt 80. The opposite ends of the sleeve 98 are adapted to engage the boss 72 and the end wall 85, respectively, to limit the axial movement of sleeve members 68 and 84 inwardly relative to each other. e

The mode of operation of the apparatus above-described is as follows:

With the crosshead 22 in the position shown in FIG. 1, a piece of meat of irregular shape is placed on bed plate 36. The framework 18 can be raised or lowered, as desired, relative to the tubular sleeves 14 and plate 36 as disclosed in the abovementioned patent to vertically adjust the crosshead relative to the piece of meat. The motor 42 when supplied with electrical current by means not shown rotates the disc 48 by means of the gear drive train 46 and drive shaft 44.

As the disc 48 rotates, vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to crosshead 22 by means of the connecting rod 52 to repeatedly drive ram plate 32 against the piece of meat, the ram plate 32 being alternately driven downwardly and raised to pound the piece of meat into the desired uniform thickness. Upon impact of the ram plate 32 with the meat, the inner sleeve member 84 slides within the outer sleeve member 68 to compress spring 96 which cushions and absorbs the energy generated by the impact of each blow. As the ram plate is raised from engagement with the meat, spring 96 relaxes to urge sleeve member 84 against the nut 88 which serves as a stop member therefor.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second form of machine according to the present invention. It is similar to the form first described and like parts therein will be identified by the same reference characters used to identify similar elements. The function of the form of apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is, like that of the apparatus first described, to shape pieces of meat by impact of a platen or ram thereon. The second form, however, is more concerned with imparting specific, predetermined configurations to pieces or portions of meat so as to form patties, cutlets, and the like therefrom.

In accordance with the second form of the invention, a suitable mold tray 100 is provided, which may be supported on bed plate 36. The tray 100 is provided with a series of orifices 102, each adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped mold 104. Each mold 104 has a cavity 106 of any suitable plan configuration and, at its upper end, an outwardly projecting circumferential flange 108 which preferably rests upon the upper surface of the tray 100. At their upper ends the walls of the cavities 106 are outwardly bevelled as shown at 110 to provide flaring entrances thereto.

Plungers, comprehensively designated 116, are suspended from the plate 66 and are adapted to cooperate with molds 104 to press or mold the portion of meat deposited in the latter into the desired shape. Each plunger 116 comprises a rectangular base 118 having dovetail side edges 120 by which it i releasably secured to the underside of crosshead 22 by means of corresponding dovetail slots (not shown) provided in a clamp 66 suitably mounted on the crosshead. The base 118 of each plunger is secured to an inner sleeve member 124 by suitable means such as machine screws 126. Each inner sleeve member 124 is provided with a cylindrical well or recess 128 which terminates in the inner or upper end thereof 130. An annular washer 132, secured to the outer or lower edge 134 of the inner sleeve member by suitable screws 136, extends radially inwardly of said outer edge 134 to form an annular shoulder 138.

An outer sleeve member 140 is slidably mounted on the inner sleeve member 124 and held thereon by machine screws 142 that extend-through elongated vertical slots 144, formed in the cylindrical wall of the outer sleeve member, and are threaded into the inner sleeve member. Thus, sleeve members 124 and 140 are telescopically movable with respect to each other to a limited extent but are restrained from relative rotation by the screws 142 in the slots 144. Each outer sleeve member 140 is provided with an end wall 146 having an axial boss 148 protecting from the outer end thereof. The boss 148 is provided with a spring-loaded ball detent which comprises a pair of spaced balls 152 projecting laterally therefrom and resiliently held in spaced-apart relation by a spring 154 extending therebetween. A ram member formed as a head or piston 158 is releasably secured on the boss 148 by the ball detent, the piston having an axial, preferably central, recess 150 which receives the boss 148. With such an arrangement, ram heads or pistons of any desired shapes and sizes may be selectively attached to the free end of a plunger 116. These plunger heads and the molds 104 are preferably formed of metal covered with polytetrafluoroethylene resin. However, other suitable materials may be employed, as desired.

As shown in FIG. 6 the lower surface of a ram head 32 may have a plurality of raised portions, such as studs 33. The raised portions may, if desired, have other configurations such as ribs, gratings, and the like. Such raised portions may be provided on the lower faces not only of the ram heads 158 and, if desired, on the bottom surfaces of mold cavities 106, but also on the lower face of ram head or plate 32.

A cup member 160 is disposed in plunger 116 for receiving one end of a compression coil spring 162, the other end of the spring being seated against the end 130 of the well 128 in inner sleeve member 124. An outwardly projecting, annular flange 164 is provided at the open end of the cup member 160 for engagement with the shoulder 138 of washer 132. In the expanded position of plunger 116 shown in FIG. 4, the spring 162 urges the inner and outer sleeve members 124 and 140 apart to the limits imposed by screws 142 in the slots 144 and the abutment of the flange 164 with the shoulder 138.

In the use of the second form of apparatus, substantially equal portions of meat are placed in the cavities 106 of molds 104. The mold tray 100 is placed on the bed plate 36 and so positioned that the cavities of a pair of molds 104 are in vertical alignment with plungers 116. The crosshead 22 is then lowered by the same means and in the same manner described in connection with the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 to force the plungers 116 into the cavities 106 of the molds thereby to press and mold the portions of meat into the desired shape. Only one downstroke of the plungers 116 is usually necessary to achieve this result. Upon the upward return stroke of the plungers 116, the tray 100 may be advanced to position another pair of mold cavities 106 in registry with the plungers 116. FIG. 5 illustrates one suitable arrangement of molds in a mold tray.

It will be understood that any desired and convenient number of molds can be provided in a mold tray and that the molds may be of any desired shape and size with, of course, a corresponding shape and size of the associated ram head or piston 158. Trays may be advanced manually or automatically within the purview of this invention. The number of plungers employed may also be varied as desired and/or convenient. Further, if desired, mold trays may be provided with one or more recesses to receive the meat portions rather than being constructed to hold separate molds. Use of the latter is, however, preferred since they may be readily moved for cleaning and for separate loading and unloading.

Mold trays may be formed of any convenient and suitable materials. A plastic material such as nylon may be used as may other plastic and/or polymeric materials or metals. In some cases, wood may be suitable. The molds also may be formed of a variety of materials although metal covered with a plastic such as polytetrafluoroethylene is usually preferred because it is rigid, nonsticking, and easily cleaned.

Preferred forms of this invention having been described and illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that numerous other modifications thereof can be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the machine may be actuated by fluid pressure instead of electricity. Also to be understood is that mechanical devices, for example conveyors, may be employed to feed the machine with meat portions to be pressed therein and that nun-.-

means other than manual may be employed for removing pressed meat from the machine and/or molds. It will further be understood that the present novel apparatus can be used not only with meat and meat products, but also with other kinds of foodstuffs and other materials.

I claim:

1. A meatpressing machine comprising: a bed plate, a crosshead; means supporting and guiding said crosshead for vertical movement relative to said plate; means for reciprocating said crosshead; a plunger, said plunger comprising a pair of telescopically sliding sleeve members, said members being resiliently held apart by a coiled compression spring, and being supported from said crosshead by one of said members, the other of said members having a free end; means for limiting relative axial movement of said sleeve members; and a separate ram member detachably secured to the free end of said other member.

2. A meat pressing machine as defined in claim ll wherein a mold adapted to receive said ram member is provided on said bed plate in vertical alignment with said plunger and said mold is removably mounted in a freely movable tray on said bed plate.

3. A meat pressing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein a plurality of laterally spaced plungers are provided on said crosshead and a plurality of molds is provided, each being in vertical alignment with one of said plungers and being removably mounted in said tray.

4. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 1 in which said plunger is detachably carried by a mounting plate that is removably secured to the lower face of said crosshead.

5. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 4 in which said ram member has an imperforate lower surface.

6. A meat-pressing machine comprising:

a. a bed plate;

b. means for supporting said bed plate and holding it in position;

c. reciprocating apparatus including a resiliently supported crosshead;

d. means for mounting and guiding said apparatus vertically over said bed plate for vertical movement relative to said plate;

e. means for reciprocating said apparatus;

e. a mounting plate removably secured to the lower face of said crosshead;

f. a plunger, said plunger being detachably fastened to said mounting plate and comprising a first sleeve member, and a second sleeve member, said members having telescopically sliding engagement;

g. a coil spring within said plunger and engaging both said members for resiliently holding said members apart;

h. restraining means engaging both said members for limiting relative axial movement of said members; and

i. a separate ram member detachably secured to said second sleeve member, said ram member having an imperforate lower surface and adapted to press meat placed between it and said bed plate.

7. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the lower surface of said ram member is provided with a plurality of raised portions.

8. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of molds is provided, said molds being detachably mounted in a freely movable tray and being vertically alignable with said plunger.

9. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 8 wherein a plurality of said plungers is provided on said crosshead and a mold is vertically alignable with each of said plungers simultaneously.

10. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said ram member is secured to said second sleeve member by internal detent means.

11. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said machine comprises a plurality of plungers mounted on said crosshead and a mold vertically ali nable with each of said plungers simultaneously, said mol s being removably mounted in a freely movable tray on said bed plate. 

1. A meat-pressing machine comprising: a bed plate, a crosshead; means supporting and guiding said crosshead for vertical movement relative to said plate; means for reciprocating said crosshead; a plunger, said plunger comprising a pair of telescopically sliding sleeve members, said members being resiliently held apart by a coiled compression spring, and being supported from said crosshead by one of said members, the other of said members having a free end; means for limiting relative axial movement of said sleeve members; and a separate ram member detachably secured to the free end of said other member.
 2. A meat pressing machine as defined in claim 1 wherein a mold adapted to receive said ram member is provided on said bed plate in vertical alignment with said plunger and said mold is removably mounted in a freely movable tray on said bed plate.
 3. A meat pressing machine as defined in claim 2 wherein a plurality of laterally spaced plungers are provided on said crosshead and a plurality of molds is provided, each being in vertical alignment with one of said plungers and being removably mounted in said tray.
 4. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 1 in which said plunger is detachably carried by a mounting plate that is removably secured to the lower face of said cross-head.
 5. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 4 in which said ram member has an imperforate lower surface.
 6. A meat-pressing machine comprising: a. a bed plate; b. means for supporting said bed plate and holding it in posItion; c. reciprocating apparatus including a resiliently supported crosshead; d. means for mounting and guiding said apparatus vertically over said bed plate for vertical movement relative to said plate; e. means for reciprocating said apparatus; e''. a mounting plate removably secured to the lower face of said crosshead; f. a plunger, said plunger being detachably fastened to said mounting plate and comprising a first sleeve member, and a second sleeve member, said members having telescopically sliding engagement; g. a coil spring within said plunger and engaging both said members for resiliently holding said members apart; h. restraining means engaging both said members for limiting relative axial movement of said members; and i. a separate ram member detachably secured to said second sleeve member , said ram member having an imperforate lower surface and adapted to press meat placed between it and said bed plate.
 7. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the lower surface of said ram member is provided with a plurality of raised portions.
 8. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein a plurality of molds is provided, said molds being detachably mounted in a freely movable tray and being vertically alignable with said plunger.
 9. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 8 wherein a plurality of said plungers is provided on said crosshead and a mold is vertically alignable with each of said plungers simultaneously.
 10. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said ram member is secured to said second sleeve member by internal detent means.
 11. A meat-pressing machine as defined in claim 10 wherein said machine comprises a plurality of plungers mounted on said crosshead and a mold vertically alignable with each of said plungers simultaneously, said molds being removably mounted in a freely movable tray on said bed plate. 